How to Check Your MC Number and Authority Status (and Get Your Authority Letter)
Reviewed by the ICR Filings compliance team · Updated October 16, 2026
Brokers, shippers, and insurance companies check your MC number before they work with you, and so should you, especially after an insurance or BOC-3 change. All of these lookups are free and public.
Where to look it up
- FMCSA Licensing and Insurance (L&I): search by MC number, USDOT number, or name. This is FMCSA's official record of operating authority, insurance on file, and BOC-3.
- SAFER company snapshot: a quick summary of a USDOT number, including operating status and authority.
- Public search in Motus: FMCSA's new registration system lets anyone search by USDOT number, legal name, or DBA without logging in.
- Our USDOT check: enter a USDOT number to see status, authority, MCS-150 dates, and what needs filing.
What the authority status means
| Status | What it means |
|---|---|
| Active | You can operate under that authority. |
| Pending | The application is in, but something is still missing, usually insurance, the BOC-3, or the protest period. Do not haul regulated freight yet. |
| Inactive, suspended, or revoked | Not authorized to operate. Usually caused by an insurance or BOC-3 cancellation. See suspension notices and reinstatement. |
The official record is online, not on paper
FMCSA treats its L&I system as the official record of your authority. Once L&I shows the certificate, permit, or license as issued, you can start operating. A printed certificate does not prove your authority is active, and FMCSA does not require carriers to keep a copy in the truck. Enforcement is based on what L&I shows.
Getting a copy of your authority letter
Shippers, brokers, factoring companies, and some insurers still ask for the grant letter. When your authority is granted, FMCSA sends it to the contact information on your record. If you cannot find it:
- Search the email account on your FMCSA record for messages from FMCSA around the date your authority was granted.
- Sign in to your company account in Motus, where your company's registration notices are kept.
- Still missing? Ask FMCSA through a ticket or chat (how to reach them), or have us request it for you.
Some brokers and factoring companies will take your L&I record or a SAFER snapshot instead of the letter, so ask before you wait on a copy.
Official sources
- FMCSA Licensing and Insurance (L&I) public search
- FMCSA SAFER: company snapshot
- FMCSA: Registration alerts
- FMCSA: Get operating authority (MC number)
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you file.
Want us to handle it?
A copy of your MC authority grant letter, emailed to you. Flat service fee, government fees shown separately. Our turnaround: within 1 business day.
See Operating Authority Letter